US National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday that the US remains convinced that lasting peace with the Palestinians can only be achieved through talks that lead to two states living side by side in peace and security.
Rice was in Israel along with other top American officials to brief their chief regional ally on the progress of the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
The fourth round of talks with Iran, the US and other world powers begins next week in Vienna.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, President Barack Obama’s chief negotiator in the talks with Iran was also present in Jerusalem for the briefings. Sherman will depart directly for Vienna after the briefings.
On Iran, Ambassador Rice stressed to Netanyahu the "critical importance of pursuing a comprehensive solution that assures the international community that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful."
She reiterated in the meeting with the prime minister that the United States will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, and that diplomacy is the best way to resolve the international community’s concerns peacefully.
Peres to Rice: US-Israel strategic relations have reached new heights under Obama
President Shimon Peres also met with Rice Wednesday and told her that "strategic security relations between the US and Israel have reached new heights under [US President Barack] Obama's leadership."
The two leaders discussed the Iranian nuclear threat, with Peres saying that diplomacy with Tehran over its nuclear program was reaching the "moment of truth."
"We must test the seriousness of the Iranians in actions and not in words only," the president told Rice.
Rice thanked Peres for his personal friendship and for the support that he has given the United States. She told Peres that President Obama "appreciates your friendship very much."
The US announced shortly after the meeting that Peres would be visiting the White House on June 25.